Play chest

ABSTRACT

A toy chest is provided having an upper and a lower storage area. Access to the lower storage area is obtained by lifting the two covers. Each cover in its lowered position provides a desk surface and when supported in a raised position provides a table. A bench is associated with each desk and is attached to the toy chest to form a single unitary unit.

[ 1 May 16, 1972 United States Patent Geddes [s41 PLAY CHEST 2,812,227 11/1957 Hill....................................312/235R [72] Inventor: Lynn S- GCddQS, R0. BOX 133, Stanton, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 766,934 1/1957 GreatBritain.........................312/235 [22] Filed: July 21,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 56,805

Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney-W. L. Williamson T C m m B A 7 5 70 5 UN 17 9 5 ZMmB 4 5 Y 3A m w 1%] J83 wh um MAO NW2 mm um L me:

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A toy Chest is provided having an upper and a lower storage 312/230 235 area. Access to the lower storage area is obtained by lifting the two covers. Each cover in its lowered position provides a desk References Cited surface and when supported in a raised position provides a ta- UNITED STATES PATENTS ble. A bench is associated with each desk and is attached to the toy chest to form a single unitary unit.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2,225,723 12/1940 Spitzwieser............................297/l57 2,215,657 9/1940 Anderson '.......312/235R PLAY CHEST The prior art is replete with examples of desks, toy chests, tables, benches, etc. designed to provide play areas and or storage areas for the myriad of toys, books and other assorted treasures which children are noted for collecting. Although most parents do not object per se to the myriad of items collected by their siblings, it is a rare parent that has the patience to bear in silence the resulting clutter. In addition, the continued battle revolving about the conflicting interest of children desirous of having their treasures readily accessible and the interest of parents desirous of bringing a semblance of order to the resulting clutter, is as tramatic to the children as it is exhausting to the parents.

It has been found that the desks, tables and benches available may provide adequate play areas, but are totally inadequate in providing storage areas. On the other hand, toy chests may provide adequate storage areas, but are totally inadequate in providing play areas. As a result, there is the constant battle by parents to have the toys safely out of sight in the toy chest and by the children to have their toys out of the play chest and at their play areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a play chest having adequate storage space while providing suitable play areas.

With the foregoing object and others in view, this invention contemplates providing facilities having an upper and a lower storage area with access to the lower storage area obtained by lifting the upper storage area and access to the upper storage area obtained by lifting covers on said upper storage area, each of said covers forming a desk surface when lowered and a table when supported in a raised position, and a bench disposed in cooperative relationship with each desk.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a play chest which embodies the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the play chest ofFlG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the play chest of FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, a more complete understanding of the invention may be had. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a play chest embodying the principles of this invention has a toy chest 11 and two benches 12-12.

The toy chest 11 has a lower storage area 13 and an upper storage area 14. Access to the lower storage area is obtained by pivoting the upper storage area 14 about hinges 16 (FIG. 3). Access to the upper storage area 14 is obtained by lifting covers 17-17 as shown in FIG. 2. The covers may be mounted in any suitable manner, for example, with hinges, to the upper storage area 14 to permit them to be pivoted in the manner indicated in FIG. 2. By tapering sides 18-18 of the upper storage area 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the covers 17-17 in their lowered position provide an excellent desk surface for a child sitting at either bench 12-12. In addition, the covers 1717 may be advantageously provided with supports 19- 19 to permit the covers to be retained in their raised position thereby forming a table 21 (FIG. 2). As will be ap preciated, either or both covers 17-17 may be left in their lowered position to provide a desk surface or either or both covers may be supported in their raised position to provide a table. The supports may be hinged, for example, to the covers 17-17 so that the supports 19-19 may be pivoted downwardly when the covers are raised to engage the bottom 22 of the upper storage area 14 and thereby support the covers 17-17 in their raised position.

In this manner, a child sitting at a bench '12 can lift a cover 17, remove a desired toy or book and then entertain himself therewith at a desk merely by lowering the cover or, if desired, on a table merely by lowering support 19. Although this does not eliminate the liklihood of toys finding their way throughout the home, it does encourage the child to properly store unused toys by permitting his ready access to such toys at a convenient play are. Also, the natural pride of the child in the play chest 10 encourages the child to play in the area of the play chest and has been found to reduce considerably the scattering of toys throughout the home.

In addition, bench lids 23-23 are also advantageously hinged in any suitable manner to permit convenient; access to an additional storage area beneath the bench lids 23-23. As will be appreciated, the lower storage area 13 is also conveniently accessible to a child using the play chest 10. These storage areas are almost as convenient as the upper storage area 14 and have to a somewhat lesser degree essentially the same advantages.

The lower storage area 13 and the upper storage area 14 are generally box-like members having four side walls and a bottom. In a like manner, the storage area in the benches are also generally box-like members having four side walls and a bottom.

The benches 12-12 and toy chest 10 are conveniently joined together in a single unit by attaching them to a single base member 24. The base member 24 may be advantageously employed as the bottom for the storage areas in the benches 12-12 as well as the lower storage area 13. Stiffening members 26 may also be conveniently employed to provide additional structural strength if desired. The covers 17-17 may also be provided with a suitable surface as a slate covering to provide a blackboard for the child to use.

What is claimed is:

l. A play chest, comprising:

a chest having an upper storage area and lower storage area, said upper storage area being pivotally mounted to said lower storage area at one end thereof to permit access to said lower storage area upon said upper storage area being pivoted upwardly from said lower storage area;

two covers pivotally mounted to said upper storage area, said covers forming a desk surface on two opposed sides of said upper storage area when lowered and providing access to said upper storage area when raised;

means for supporting each of said covers in a raised position to form a table;

two benches disposed on opposite sides of said chest in cooperative relationship with said desks; and

a base member for joining said benches and said chest together in a single unit.

2. The play chest of claim 1 wherein each bench is provided with a pivotally mounted lid so as to pennit access to a storage area within each bench.

3. The play chest of claim 1 wherein said covers are blackboards. 

1. A play chest, comprising: a chest having an upper storage area and lower storage area, said upper storage area being pivotally mounted to said lower storage area at one end thereof to permit access to said lower storage area upon said upper storage area being pivoted upwardly from said lower storage area; two covers pivotally mounted to said upper storage area, said covers forming a desk surface on two opposed sides of said upper storage area when lowered and providing access to said upper storage area when raised; means for supporting each of said covers in a raised position to form a table; two benches disposed on opposite sides of said chest in cooperative relationship with said desks; and a base member for joining said benches and said chest together in a single unit.
 2. The play chest of claim 1 wherein each bench is provided with a pivotally mounted lid so as to permit access to a storage area within each bench.
 3. The play chest of claim 1 wherein said covers are blackboards. 